Part One: General Boathouse Rules

1. Members and accompanied guests using the facilities and equipment of the Club do so at their own risk. Members must be able to swim adequately with or without flotation assistance.

2. The Club is not responsible for the loss of money or property from lockers or from any part of the Club's premises.

3. Pets are not permitted in the Boathouse.

4. Smoking is prohibited in the Boathouse.

5. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted on the Club premises except in connection with organized functions approved by the Boathouse Committee or the Board of Directors. No persons shall be permitted to use Club equipment while under the influence of any intoxicant.

6. Parking is prohibited in the paved area adjacent to the Boathouse during working hours and in any areas reserved for the Cameron Stanford House employees.

7. Noise and unseemly or dangerous conduct are prohibited on the Club premises and on the Lake.

8. Children under 10 years of age are not allowed on Club premises unless accompanied by an adult.

9. Coaches shall be responsible for the conduct of their crews. They shall be familiar with the Boathouse rules and procedures and shall assist the Boathouse Manager in enforcing them.

10. All members except Coaching members are expected to spend at least 12 hours per year, or 1 hour per month of Club membership, helping in the repair and maintenance of Club facilities and equipment.

11. Failure to abide by the Boathouse Rules may result in a suspension of rowing and/or Membership privileges. Suspension shall be determined by the Boathouse Committee in accordance with Article 4 of the by-laws.

12. Boathouse keys are issued to members according to policy set by the Board of Directors. This policy shall be reviewed at the time of the General Membership Meeting, and may be revised during the membership year. Coaches and Crew Captains shall be eligible to receive a key free of charge at the discretion of the Boathouse Committee. Other members shall be eligible to receive a key after payment of any key fees and after demonstrating to the Boathouse Committee:
* Understanding of the boathouse rules
* Safe and careful handling of equipment on and off the water.

Part Two: Equipment Usage Rules

1. Rowing hours shall be set by the Boathouse Committee, and may be revised from time to time in accordance with policy set by the Oakland Parks and Recreation Department regarding use of the Lake. Rowing hours shall be posted on the bulletin board.

2. Boats and equipment not owned by the Club may be stored in the Boathouse upon application to and approval of the Boathouse Committee. Privately owned equipment over which the owner(s) maintain control as to use shall not be insured by the Club and may be subject to storage fees at the discretion of the Boathouse Committee and the Board of Directors. Privately owned equipment, which, at the discretion of the owner(s), may be used by Club members (with the approval of the Boathouse Committee), may be insured by the Club upon application to and approval of the Board of Directors.

3. All rowers using Club equipment are responsible for the safe use and care of the equipment while they are using it. Careless or negligent use of Club equipment by a member may result in suspension of rowing privileges at the discretion of the Boathouse Committee. At the discretion of the Board of Directors members may be liable for damage to Club equipment.

4. Equipment is classified, and rowers must use only equipment for which they are qualified, or equipment of a lower classification. Qualification procedures are given in Part Three, Sculling Equipment Procedures. The classification of boats and oars shall be posted.

* Novice: Equipment that is available for the use of all qualified members during rowing hours.
* Training: Equipment that is restricted to use by members who have demonstrated proficiency in rowing and in equipment care and handling, and to members of an organized rowing program under the supervision of a coach.
* Racing: Equipment that is reserved for racing use by competent members during race training and actual racing, upon approval of the Boathouse Committee.

5. When all equipment of one type of classification is in use, members shall restrict their rowing time to 1 hour inclusive of time from launch to docking. Rowers should go by the dock frequently to check need, and be courteous.

6. All members and crews using any equipment in the Boathouse, including private equipment, shall record such in the equipment use logbook. Damage of the equipment shall be recorded, however slight, and regardless or whether it occurred before or during the member's use.

7. Members shall report immediately any damage during their use of equipment to the Boathouse Manager. If damage is severe or of a nature that further use of the equipment will compound the damage, members shall place a note on the equipment so that it will not be used until repaired.

8. Members shall place damaged equipment near the workbench in the Boathouse. This includes oars, slings, or boat parts.

9. Members shall inspect equipment before and after each use. Members shall not use anything in damaged or questionable condition. If the damage has not been previously noted in the logbook, members shall notify the Boathouse Manager.

10. Members shall assume responsibility for their own safety while on the water. Members shall seek and obtain advice and instructions from the Boathouse Manager or club-designated member regarding procedures for recovery from a tip-over on the water in sculling equipment. Coaches shall provide instruction and assistance for their crews regarding water safety with rowing equipment.

11. Members shall wash and wipe down the outside hull of all boats and oars after each use, and wash the inside of boats whenever lake water has splashed inside or whenever there is any visible salt or dirt buildup inside.

12. Oarlocks shall be closed before putting boats back in their racks.

Part Three: Sculling Equipment Procedures

1. Handling boats on the dock

* Check that slings are in stable condition before you use them. Broken ones can collapse or be blown over. Place broken slings near the workbench for repair.
* When handling a boat, never allow the hull or riggers to bump or touch anything. All hulls and riggers are fragile and easily damaged.
* Before launching, check that the following are in good working order:
o Oar blades and tips have no splits or other breaks.
o Sliding seats move freely on tracks.
o Foot stretchers are firmly attached on both sides and in the middle.

Damage to the foot stretcher will occur if all three bolts do not tighten firmly and the foot stretcher can move. If you cannot use your normal or an alternative position, do not row the boat and notify the Boathouse Manager.

2. Aeros

* Handle aeros one end at a time to better control avoiding hazards (like other oarlocks). Move the aero to slings to do a pre-row check, then put it in the water one end at a time.
* Float the boat to the end of the aero dock to install the oars and launch.
* Launch with the hull of the boat 6 inches away from the dock to avoid hull or rigger damage when your weight shifts to the boat and the boat rides lower in the water.
* Land the boat stern end first, to better see the boat and dock converging.
* After washing and drying, tie the boats down in case of winds.

3. Training singles

* Whenever there are others around, have someone help you take out and put away a single, because there is a much lesser chance for damage. If no one else is available, it is permissible to do so alone, but only if you can comfortably handle the boat alone; otherwise wait.
* If you are handling a boat alone, always place the boat in slings and roll it over. Do so by lifting the bow or stern with the other end in the sling. Otherwise, there is a chance of damaging the rigging.
* Inside the boathouse, replace singles the way you found them: bow out towards the water and upside down. Place the stern end of the gunwales, or splash boards, on the rack and the seat on the other. The seat and tracks can better support the weight.

4. Launching

* Step into the boat only on the frame structure beneath the seat tracks. Put your foot in the center at the end nearest the foot stretcher. Never put any weight on the hull, or any part of the frame structure beneath the seat, or it will break. Learn to get in and out of the boat primarily on one leg, balancing yourself with your hands on the oar handles and dock.
* If your feet are small, rather than wearing shoes in the clogs, wear heavy socks or neoprene booties (aqua socks). Shoes can quickly break down leather clogs.
* Place oar blades tip up while on the dock. If someone steps on them, they will be less likely to break.
* Push off or walk yourself off the dock with your hands, not the oar.

5. Handling boats on the water

* Never hit anything with the boat or oars. Damage will result and you will probably tip over.
* Before getting in the boat, look out over the lake to see what activity is going on. There will be at various times sailboats, pedal boats, canoes, launches, other scullers and sweep crews. Think ahead and remember these hazards.
* Know where the buoys are around the lake and remember they are occasionally moved by the sailboat classes. These are the most frequently hit objects.
* Stay well away, 50 feet or more, from all shores. When the water level is low, there are many submerged rocks and other objects.
* Follow the counterclockwise traffic pattern around the lake as posted on the bulletin board. Collisions between scullers and other singles and crew shells are the second most frequent accidents and are by far the most dangerous and damaging.
* Look over both shoulders frequently, every 10 strokes, to avoid hitting anything. Be especially on the lookout for other boats.

6. Docking

* Row slowly around the docks coming in, and look over your shoulders constantly. Other sculler and sweep crews will be around the docks. A frequent cause of boat damage is hitting the bow on the dock coming in too fast or not aimed properly. All club boats should enter the dock stern first to better see the conditions.
* Step out of the boat as you step in, one foot on only the center of the frame structure beneath the seat and towards the foot stretchers.
* Place the oars tip up and out of the way of foot traffic, preferably under your boat, for washing. Oars and boats all over the dock cause congestion and broken oars.
* Be sure the seat will not fall out of the tracks when the boat is picked up and turned over. If it will not stay in the tracks, take it out before you roll the boat and replace it when the boat is in the racks. Notify the Boathouse Manager.
* Do not wash the oars with the blades at the boathouse doorway and the handles on the dock, as the water will rot out the boathouse floor.
* Put boats and oars away carefully; don't rush. Carry oars one in each hand, blades forward, so as to hit nothing.

7. Sculling Qualifications

* Be sure you know your level of skill and the equipment you should and should not use. Novices may not use the training singles until they become so qualified, and no one may use racing equipment until qualified and then only in direct preparation for a race.
* A rower's level of skill is determined when he or she first joins the club. In order to advance in qualification, a rower must demonstrate to the Boathouse Manager or to a club-designated sculler proficiency in the following areas:
o Care and safety in handling the boats and oars on the dock.
o Basic knowledge of the working parts of a boat and oars and how to check for damage.
o Safe handling of a boat on the water.
o An appropriate degree of rowing skill.

* Ask other scullers for advice or instruction to increase your skill level. At LMRC we are glad to help one another. Contact the Boathouse Manager if you wish to be checked out for a higher qualification.

Part Four: Sweep Equipment Procedures

1. Coaches and coxswains are responsible for the proper and safe handling of sweep boats on and off the water. This includes moving the boats in and out of the boathouse, on the docks, and while rowing.

Whenever a boat is being handled, all rowers must be quiet and attentive to the task.

2. Check that slings are in stable condition before you use them. Do not use weakened or broken slings; place them in the boathouse for repair.

3. Each rower must check that the condition of the seat and tracks are in good working condition. Do not use seats that don't slide freely; ask the cox or coach to get one that does. If the seat will not stay in the tracks when the boat is upside down, take it out before turning the boat over so it will not fall out and break.

4. Each rower must check that the foot stretchers are in good condition. All three fastening pins must tighten firmly; if the stretcher moves on the pins or if one pin is missing, it will rapidly wear and break. If all three pins will not fasten in the position you like, use a position where they will; do not row with a pin loose or unfastened.

5. Coaches and coxswains must notify the boathouse manager promptly of needed repairs, especially seats and foot stretchers, so that damage will not become worse. Leave broken parts on the workbench with a note identifying the boat and the problem.

6. When getting in a boat at the dock, move the boat out and away from the dock a foot or more so that when rowers step in, the riggers are not pressing down hard on the dock. They are not meant to take weight this way and it strains the hull.

7. Do not wear shoes in the foot stretchers if your feet are small. This quickly wears and breaks the leather clogs. Wear as many socks as you need to.

8. Always hold the oars tip up when on, leaving or approaching the docks. This minimizes the chance of blade breakage.

9. Be constantly alert for other boats and buoys on the water. Know who else is on the water before you go out. Know where the buoys are and remember that they are occasionally moved by the sailboat classes. If in doubt about being able to avoid hitting something, slow down or stop, especially in the case of blind (sculling) boats.

10. Stay well away - 50 feet or more - from all shores at all times. There are many submerged objects that will severely damage a boat or oars.

11. When setting down and washing sweep oars, place them well out of the way of people walking on the docks. Always carry them blade forward so as not to hit anything with the fragile blade.

12. Wash and wipe down boats and oars after each use. Wash the inside of boats whenever lake water has gotten inside, whether by splashing or leaking, or whenever salt or dirt buildup is seen. All sweep boats must be washed inside at least once a week.